A driver for the U.S.-funded Al-Iraqiya TV, he was killed by gunfire from U.S. forces near a checkpoint close to the Iraqi city of Samara, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Baghdad. Correspondent Asaad Kadhim was killed and cameraman Jassem Kamel was injured.
Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy director of operations for coalition forces in Iraq, confirmed on April 20 that U.S. troops killed the driver and journalist. According to media reports, Kimmitt said coalition forces at the checkpoint fired several warning shots to try to stop the journalists' vehicle. When the vehicle ignored those shots, Kimmitt said, forces fired at the car.